The Curries Fountain Stadium in Durban has been officially recognized as a provincial heritage site. Its recognizable ticket gates and floodlight masts are iconic landmarks.
Recognition of Curries Fountain as a Heritage Site
The Research of Curries and Surroundings (Rocs) project, previously based at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), designated Curries Fountain as one of South Africa's significant historical and political sites. The Rocs team has produced several books dedicated to the historical importance of this area.
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Mntomuhle Khawula stated that the stadium holds exceptional historical, cultural, and social significance for the residents of KwaZulu-Natal and all of South Africa. According to archival records, the place received its name in honor of the first reliable water source in Durban, established by advisor H.V. Curry in 1878.
Research indicates that Curry drained the well and installed pumps near the Botanical Gardens. Since 1913, the area has been the site of mass public gatherings, including events related to historical strikes in Durban, and later, anti-apartheid rallies.
As part of Heritage Month, observed in KwaZulu-Natal in September, the status of provincial heritage site for the Curries Fountain Stadium in Durban was announced on Tuesday by the KZN Amafa and KZN Amafa research institutes.
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) reported that Heritage Month takes place in September under the theme: 'Celebrating our living heritage: strengthening the bonds that unite us.' The department emphasized that this is an opportunity for South Africans to reflect on their shared history, celebrate cultural diversity, and strengthen a sense of belonging based on constitutional values of human dignity, equality, non-racism, non-sexism, and the spirit of Ubuntu. Heritage Day will be celebrated on September 24th.
Transformation into a Sports Venue
Studies of Curries Fountain show that negotiations to develop it as a sports facility began in 1920, and in 1924, it was officially designated as a sports ground by the Durban Indian Sports Association. The stadium became an important venue for various sports, as well as for social, recreational events, and labour movement activities, playing a vital role in the fight for non-racial sport.
The Curries Fountain Heritage Preservation Fund was established in October 2024 with the aim of having Curries declared a heritage site. The project was led by Maya Singh, a former director and member of the South African Council for Sport (SACOS). For Singh, this announcement was both an emotional achievement and a call to action. She noted that this should be seen as a beginning, not an end, to a new responsibility 'to protect, restore, and breathe new life into Curries Fountain, ensuring that young people understand the extraordinary history that unfolded on this land.'
Maya Singh, President of the Curries Fountain Heritage Preservation Fund, added: 'This is an incredibly proud and emotional moment for all of us who have fought to protect the history and heritage of Curries Fountain. Its contribution to non-racial sport and our broader social history cannot be overstated.'
Future Aspirations of Curries Fountain
Singh stated that the fund now aims to restore and revitalize the area while preserving its unique heritage. The vision is not to create a monument to the past, but for the past to serve the future. 'Our goal is to see Curries Fountain become a place again where talent develops, communities gather, and history inspires the future. Those who lived through apartheid understand what Curries Fountain represented. Young South Africans may know its name without fully grasping its meaning,' she said.
Sport Broke Barriers
Prem Vayapuri, a former director of school sports, coaching, and high-performance teams, noted that the field that fought for freedom must now become a field that inspires the future. He stressed that the outstanding history of Curries Fountain has finally received official recognition. 'For over a century, this iconic sports stadium in Durban was much more than just a place to hold games. It was a field of dreams, a stage for sporting heroes, a platform for resistance, and a gathering place for communities fighting for dignity and equality,' he stated. Vayapuri will remember the stadium as a place where sport overcame barriers, where racism was fought, and also as the site of the relaunch of the ANC Women's League in 1990 after its legalization.
The Curries Fountain Stadium in Durban was recognized as a provincial heritage site by the KwaZulu-Natal Amafa Research Institute.
Resistance to Apartheid
Khawula also noted that the venue served as a center of resistance against apartheid and is now a symbol of reflection, reflecting the province's rich intangible heritage. 'It has become a place documenting the history of sport among communities that experienced racial isolation, demonstrating how these communities used sport and sporting spaces to build identity, community, and resilience,' he said. Khawula emphasized that the institute recognizes that heritage preservation is most significant when it contributes to the preservation of collective memory and ensures the accessibility of important places for current and future generations.
The declaration of the site's status represents an important step in recognizing and protecting a place of historical, cultural, and social significance, providing formal recognition and protection for the heritage of Curries Fountain Stadium for coming generations. Khawula added that the government has gradually reoriented the heritage sector towards inclusivity, redress, and cultural democracy. 'These efforts have increased the visibility of local languages, music, rituals, traditional healing methods, crafts, and oral histories, supporting the transmission of knowledge from one generation to the next.'
